TLT’s Bristol office fields an ‘incredibly knowledgeable licensing team across the UK’, and the group is consequently instructed by notable pubs, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, brewers, hotels, visitor attractions, conference venues, galleries, theatres, and retailers running the length and breadth of the country. Practice head Matthew Phipps is described by one client as ‘sharp, practical and impressive’. Ewen Macgregor provides strategic and policy advice on all aspects of licensing, including in relation to acquisitions and developments, as well as handling enforcement mandates, and assisting with the maintenance of large licensed estates. Piers Warne rounds out the roster of dedicated experts.

The team at Burges Salmon LLP has extensive experience in dealing with licensing and gaming regimes across multiple industries. The firm regularly assists with issues relating to multi-site licensed portfolios across the hotels, education and property management sectors, as well as advising a range of players from the leisure sphere, including sports stadia, racecourses, heritage sites, museums, and caravan parks. The firm has recently seen an increasing amount of work in relation to online retailers and operators. Practice lead Joanne Attwood ‘is simply superb in her knowledge of the licensed sector’.

The ‘substantial and well respected licensing team’ at Wollens receives instruction from a wide range of major developers and hospitality companies. Chris Hart takes the lead on non-contentious issues, advising on the gamut of day-to-day and niche matters affecting football and other sports grounds, conference centres, music festival sites, distilleries, hotel complexes, nightclub premises, caravan parks, historic manor houses and country estates, business and leisure parks, vessels, amusement arcades, alcohol home delivery operations, and vineyards. Jon Dunkley oversees the contentious side, undertaking full advocacy services for licensing applications before both local authorities and courts.

In addition to carrying out the full scope of licensing work relating to pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars and off-licences, the team at Laceys also specialises in issues surrounding outdoor events and festivals. The group is well placed to handle both advisory and contentious work, including opposing applications brought by authorities. Brendan Herbert has taken over leadership of the department, supported by previous practice head Philip Day; both practitioners are based in Bournemouth.